What mistakes do students make with Factors affecting food security?

Writing only that conflict kills people without explaining the effect on food or water supplies. Put it right by describing disruption to farming, transport or water infrastructure. Assuming conflict always causes famine. Put it right by using cautious wording such as can lead to or may cause. Ignoring water and mentioning only food. Put it right by giving at least one water-related consequence.

What are the exam tips for Factors affecting food security in Biology AQA GCSE?

Use a clear chain such as conflict → people flee farms → crops not harvested → less food available. Include one water-related point, such as damaged pipes or unsafe water sources, to cover the whole statement. Use cautious language such as can, may or in some parts of the world rather than claiming conflict always causes famine.

AQA · GCSE · Biology

Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018

Conflicts that have arisen in some parts of the world which affect the…

Full specification wording

Factors affecting food security: Conflicts that have arisen in some parts of the world which affect the availability of water or food.

Conflicts can disrupt food and water supplies in several ways.

Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on 21 September 2026.

Point 8 of 9

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

What earns the marks

State that conflict can force people to leave their homes and farms, so food is not produced or harvested.
Explain that conflict can damage infrastructure such as roads, markets, water pipes and irrigation systems, disrupting food and water distribution.
Describe how conflict can make water sources unsafe or inaccessible, reducing the availability of clean water.
Explain that money and workers may be diverted away from farming, lowering food production.
Recognise that disputes over shared water or land can themselves be a cause of conflict.
Link conflict to food security by stating that food and water become less available, more expensive or unsafe.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Writing only that conflict kills people without explaining the effect on food or water supplies.
Put it right by describing disruption to farming, transport or water infrastructure.
Assuming conflict always causes famine.
Put it right by using cautious wording such as can lead to or may cause.
Ignoring water and mentioning only food.
Put it right by giving at least one water-related consequence.

Exam tips

Use a clear chain such as conflict → people flee farms → crops not harvested → less food available.
Include one water-related point, such as damaged pipes or unsafe water sources, to cover the whole statement.
Use cautious language such as can, may or in some parts of the world rather than claiming conflict always causes famine.

Try the lesson

The start of the Factors affecting food security: Conflicts that have arisen in some parts of the world which affect the availability of water or food. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

Have a go first

Which of these is a way that armed conflict can reduce the availability of food in a region?

Tip: press 1 to 4 to choose

Listen

Conflicts can disrupt food and water supplies in several ways. Fighting may force people to leave their homes and farms, so crops are not planted or harvested. Roads, markets and water pipelines may be damaged, making it difficult to transport or distribute food and clean water. Conflict can also divert money and workers away from farming, and may contaminate water sources or make them unsafe to reach. In some regions, disputes over shared rivers or water sources can themselves cause conflict. The result is that food and water become less available, more expensive or unsafe, which reduces food security. This factor shows that food security depends not only on biology and environment but also on social and political stability. A strong answer earns marks for these points. State that conflict can force people to leave their homes and farms, so food is not produced or harvested. Explain that conflict can damage infrastructure such as roads, markets, water pipes and irrigation systems, disrupting food and water distribution. Describe how conflict can make water sources unsafe or inaccessible, reducing the availability of clean water. Explain that money and workers may be diverted away from farming, lowering food production. A common slip: Writing only that conflict kills people without explaining the effect on food or water supplies: the answer must focus on availability and access. Instead, describing disruption to farming, transport or water infrastructure. Exam tip: Use a clear chain such as conflict → people flee farms → crops not harvested → less food available.

See it

A top-down flowchart starting from a single node labelled Conflict, which branches into four consequences: People leave homes and farms; Infrastructure damaged: roads, markets, water pipes, irrigation; Money and workers diverted from farming; and Water sources unsafe or inaccessible. People leaving homes and farms and money and workers diverted from farming both lead to Crops not planted or harvested. Infrastructure damaged leads to Food and water distribution disrupted. Crops not planted or harvested, Food and water distribution disrupted, and Water sources unsafe or inaccessible all lead to Food and water less available, more expensive or unsafe, which leads to Reduced food security. — Shows how conflict can disrupt food production and distribution and make water unsafe, leading to reduced food security.

Label the diagram

Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart starting from a single node labelled Conflict, which branches into four consequences: People leave homes and farms; Infrastructure damaged: roads, markets, water pipes, irrigation; Money and workers diverted from farming; and Water sources unsafe or inaccessible. People leaving homes and farms and money and workers diverted from farming both lead to Crops not planted or harvested. Infrastructure damaged leads to Food and water distribution disrupted. Crops not planted or harvested, Food and water distribution disrupted, and Water sources unsafe or inaccessible all lead to Food and water less available, more expensive or unsafe, which leads to Reduced food security.

1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3

0 of 3 labelled

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